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Iran denies military cooperation with NKorea

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tokyo, June 30, IRNA
Iran-NKorea-Cooperation
Iran on Friday dismissed any military cooperation with North Korea, saying ties between the two countries are completely normal.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific and the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs Mehdi Safari made the remark while speaking to Japan's TBS television.

Safari was in Tokyo to attend the 16th round of bilateral talks between the two countries' deputy foreign ministers, held Thursday.

"All countries have the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," he said and stressed Iran's nuclear activities are thoroughly peaceful and based on international regulations with respect to rights of signatories of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in using nuclear energy.

He outlined Iran's performance on establishing stability and security in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East, saying
restoration of tranquility to Afghanistan and Iraq are in line with Iran's interests.

"During the past 27 years (since the victory of the Islamic Revolution), Iran has always been among main factors behind establishment of security and stability in the region.

"As a big and important state in the region, it has always supported restoration of tranquility to regional states," Safari said.

The deputy foreign minister said he had "very successful and constructive" meetings with senior Japanese officials and added the two countries' officials have political will to expand mutual relations in all field.

He said during the 16th round of bilateral talks, the sides discussed political, economic and cultural ties as well as leading regional and international developments.

Meanwhile, in a separate interview with Yomiuri newspaper, Safari elaborated on Tehran-Tokyo ties, Iran's peaceful nuclear activities, Tehran's role in establishing regional peace and stability, relations with North Korea and developments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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